A Closer Look-Six Midsize Family Sedans
Safety and crash testingSafety is an important consideration on any new vehicle, and all six automakers address the issue well. As expected, each of these sedans is fitted with dual front air bags and side curtain air bags. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system are also standard. In consideration of younger passengers, all feature child safety door locks and 3-point center seat belts in the rear seats.
In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion received "Good" ratings (the highest offered by the Institute) in both front- and side-impact tests, and "Acceptable" in roof-strength tests. The Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry were rated "Good" in all three tests.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the Honda Accord 5 stars (the highest possible) in Front Driver and Passenger, Side Driver, and Rollover rating. However, it earned 3-star ratings in Side Rear Passenger. The Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima each earned 5 stars in Front Driver and Passenger, and Side Driver, but earned 4-star ratings in Side Rear and Rollover testing. The Chevrolet Malibu and Toyota Camry earned 5-star ratings in Front Driver and Passenger, Side Driver, and Side Rear Passenger rating. However, they both earned 4-star ratings in the Rollover test. As of this writing, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata has yet to be tested.
Quality and dependabilityFurther differentiating these six family sedans is styling, driving dynamics, options, and initial quality and long-term dependability. In that regard, the Nissan Altima ranked highest within the Midsize Car segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS),SM the benchmark study for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership. The Chevrolet Malibu finished among the top three models in this segment in the 2009 IQS. In the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS),SM measuring the number of owner-reported problems in 3-year-old vehicles, the Honda Accord ranked among the top three models in the Midsize Car segment.
Conclusion
Looking closely at this group of six midsize family sedans, it's obvious that the automakers have found a formula that works-and none deviate far from it. All of these sedans are close in physical size, passenger room and cargo capacity. Each of these automobiles also features 4-cylinder engines that are nearly identical in displacement, horsepower and fuel economy. Safety is also important to buyers in this segment-and all five that have been tested deliver "Good" frontal scores from the IIHS, and "5-star" front crash-test ratings from the NHTSA.
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